Chopta Chandrashila Tungnath Trek

Scenic Beauty and Landscapes

• Deoriatal (Mirror of God): The Deoria tal is a high altitude lake located at 2,438 meter altitude. This lake, which has emerald water, acts almost like a mirror because it is used as a reflecting pool. On still mornings, the reflection of the Chaukhamba Massif is shown perfectly in a symmetrical form in the lake. The lake is surrounded by "fairy-tale" views created by the combination of thick, lush Pine and Oak trees.
• Chopta Meadows (Mini Switzerland): The area at 2,680 meter altitude opens into lush, green Bugyals (meadows). The meadows are undulating in nature, similar to a golf course which has been manicured and created through natural processes. The meadows present a layered gallery of peaks that run westward (to the left) to the eastward to the right: Kedarnath, Kedar Dome (north-western), Trishul, and Nanda Devi (the eastern peaks).
• Trail through the Enchanted Forest and Tree Line: As the trail winds steadily through the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, it creates a "flora tunnel" of old Rhododendron and Bhojpatra trees that bloom in a deep crimson colour during early spring. The dense vegetation transitions to an Oxygen-rich (Tree Line) environment, where all the oxygen-rich trees disappear abruptly into a barren wind-swept region of alpine moss and dwarf shrubs.
• Dramatic Ridge Walk: The last part of the ascent to the summit is a rough, jagged traverse between the Mandakini and Alaknanda valleys. This wide area of the Himalayas is called the "Amphitheater of Giants", and platforms consist of thin rocky spines where you feel like you are standing very close to the Great Himalayan Wall, often at the end of your rope.

Summit Experience

• The Final Scramble: From the mile-long Tungnath Temple to the summit of Chandrashila, you will follow a steep zigzag trail made of unpaved raw rock and scree. As the atmosphere grows thinner, the trek will challenge your lungs by making it harder to breathe.
• The 360-Degree Gallery: While trekking through the majority of the Himalayan mountain range, you will usually have to navigate through three valleys with other mountains obscuring the view from one to the next. Chandrashila is unique because it is a free-standing mountain. When you reach the summit of Chandrashila, you will see outwards in every direction. You will see Kedarnath range, Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi, the peaks of Trishul, Neelkanth, and Dunagiri all at once.
• The Sea of Clouds: Standing at a height of 4,000 m, one can safely say that you have regularly found yourself above the clouds; thus, you may look down and see a vast white fluffy ocean; however, this view can be quite adrenaline-inducing. It is indeed an otherworldly feeling to be surrounded by all that white, while you can only focus on the unknown valleys below.

Best Season & Seasonal Beauty

• Spring (March - May): The forests become ablaze with crimson and pink blooms from the Rhododendron tree; the trail is often covered with fallen petals.Visually, Fresh green meadows intermingle with the last remnants of snow at higher elevations. Nature lovers and bird watchers will enjoy the vibrant colour of spring, which is refreshing and lively.
• Autumn (October - November): Autumn provides the sharpest high-resolution view of the Himalayan range against a backdrop of deep, clear sapphire blue skies. Autumn transforms the meadows from lush green to toasted gold; the air is crisp and dry. Autumn provides stable weather and endless aerial perspective, making it the ultimate season for capturing mountain scenery.
• Winter (December - February): The entire landscape transforms into a white "Narnia" scene where everything from the meadows to the temple has been covered by 3-5 feet of snow. All trees have become caked with frost, and the trekking trail has now evolved into a strenuous snow trek. The sound of silence, the feeling of being ethereal, and the anticipation of adventure; the perfect time to experience the Himalayas in an ice-covered environment.
• Monsoon (July - September): Clouds and the peaks play hide and seek amongst one another, while the valley has been transformed into a bright, lush, moss-green landscape. The air has a natural aroma from multiple waterfalls that have now formed and fill the valley; it smells of wet earth and fresh pine. There is a romantic mood created by the atmospheric conditions.

Cultural & Village Life

• Tungnath Temple: It is located at an elevation of 12,073 ft in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, India, is the highest Shiva Temple in the world and is also referred to as the Tritiya Kedar, which represents the arms of lord Shiva (Bahus). Built over 1,000 years ago, Tungnath is one of the best examples of the Nagara style. It was constructed from grey siltstone that didn't require mortar to hold it together. Tungnath temple has endured hundreds of years of seismic activity and extreme weather conditions in the Himalayas. 
• Sari Village: The village of Sari serves as the base of the Tungnath Trek and provides a glimpse into Garhwali society. The local people still maintain the ancient agricultural method known as "Barahnaja" (12 grains) by using hand-carved mountain terraces to cultivate and collect staples such as Mandua (finger millet) and Rajma (kidney beans), using knowledge passed down for generations. 
• Transhumance and the Dev Doli: Transhumance is an agricultural practice that involves moving livestock to and from seasonal pastures. In November, when snow prevents travel between villages in the Himalaya, the local people and the shepherds carry the Dev Doli (deity's palanquin) from Tungnath to Makkumath and this event signals to the shepherds when to move their flocks down into the lower valleys for feeding. 
• Spiritual Symbol & Pahadi Hospitality: There are many symbols of spirituality that exist along the trails used for the Tungnath Trek, including many cairns (piles of stones) built by locals to provide direction and connection with the deities that live within the mountains. The Pahari villagers provide warm hospitality and also maintain a strong spiritual connection to the region they live in, which is reflected in the way they provide hospitality to trekkers. When one visits a homestay, they can sit by the "Chulha" (fireplace) and experience the warmth of the fire as well as the warmth of the people.

Flora & Fauna

Flora: The Vertical Ecosystems

• The Rhododendron Kingdom: Starting in lower altitudes we have the Rhododendron arboreum (Buransh), which is the start of a very colorful flower bed at the beginning of the trail. The deep red roses of the lower trail blend with the rarer white and pink blooms higher up along the trail, allowing you to use them as a guide to altitude as you progress on the trek. 
• The Pillars of the Forest: The trail twists and turns as it passes through the enormous deodar (Himalayan cedar) and oak (Moru/Kharsu) trees on either side of the trail with trunks covered by heavy moss and lichen; the combination of the various shades of green along with the grey trunks make for magical fairytale setting. 
• The Bhojpatra Tree: At approximately 11,000 feet (the tree line), you will find the paper birch tree (Bhojpatra). The unique structure of the tree allows the outer layer of the tree to “peel” away in thin sheets from the inner layer; for over 2,500 years it has served as a medium for preserving ancient Indian texts. 
• High-Altitude Medicinal Alpine Herbs: The terrain above the tree line is very different from below it. The terrain includes immense stretches of rugged rocky outcroppings and high-altitude wildflowers including numerous species of Himalayan herbs (e.g., Primula, Daisy) and the sacred Brahmakamal flowers which grow between the boulders and other rocky outcrops.

Fauna: The Highlights of Rare Birds and Wildlife at High Altitude

• The Himalayan Monal: The Himalayan monal (the state bird of Uttarakhand, India) is the highlight of your trek along with the rich variety of flora. The colourful plumage of the males and their bright metallic green heads stand out as they soar gracefully above the deep, white snow or forage for food in lush green meadows. 
• Encounter: In the dense woods of the Himalayas, you may be lucky enough to encounter a koklass or kalij pheasant, while soaring above the trees will be the magnificent Himalayan griffon vultures and kites.

Adventure and Difficulty Level

• Adventure: The trek to Chandrashila is a 3.5 km stone pavement from Chopta to Tungnath. Although the path to Chandrasila is steep, it is also well-defined. The real adventure begins at the temple on the last 1.5 km to Chandrasila. It is an extremely steep, zig-zagging rocky ridge that can be very windy and very slippery when there is ice. 
• Become Accessible: This trek is great for first time trekkers or families wanting to summit without having to commit to 10 days of travel.

Unique Experiences

The first sunrise from the top of a mountain. Beginning your trek  the previous evening to be at the top before daybreak is one of those once in a lifetime opportunities and watching the sun convert the gray summit into an orange and then gold Nanda Devi Peak is the essence of this trek as it was intended to be.

Temple Bell Sounds: When trekking either late in the day or at dawn, the sound of bells from the Tungnath Temple reverberating off the mist-covered mountains is one of the earliest and most awe-inspiring sounds you will ever hear.